Essay on Gilgamesh vs. Genesis - 1436 Words

Gilgamesh vs. Genesis In our society, which is overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian, students often find it difficult to compare Bible stories with tales from other cultures, because our own belief system is wrapped up in the prior, and it is hard for many of us to go against our traditional faith to evaluate them objectively. But in a comparison of the Biblical book of Genesis with the ancient Sumerian text, Epic of Gilgamesh, many parallels suggest that the same type of spiritual searching inspired the composition of both works. It would seem that both cultures shared a concern for the nature of human life, and how its shortness affects the way life should be lived. However, the conclusions each culture†¦show more content†¦And there was quite a lot. There were the Sumerian Seven Tablets of Creation; there was the Babylonian Gilgamesh epic. . . . (Moskin 30). The similarities should not surprise us, right down to the reason God was supposed to have decided to destroy the earth by water. In the Biblical book of Genesis, the author tells us that: The earth was corrupt in Gods sight, and the earth was filled with violence (Genesis 6:11). Part of this, the Genesis author comments, was largely due to the fact that human beings on the earth had become extremely sinful. The Lord saw that the wickedness of men was great in the earth, and it grieved him to his heart (Genesis 6:5). So He determined to kill all the people of the earth, saving only one family which had steadfastly maintained their righteousness. This, of course, was the family of Noah. The parallels between this story and that of Gilgamesh are too obvious to criticize. Of course the Hebrew iteration of the flood story is not coincidence. For a time, the Hebrews lived in Sumer, home of Abrahams people..., taking with them ancient accounts of flood and righteous people whose obedience and wisdom helped them to survive the consuming waters (Near East 2). However, several interesting points can be made here about the characteristics of Sumerian religion. For one, it is clear that, likeShow MoreRelatedThe Epic of Gilgamesh vs the Genesis1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe Epic of Gilgamesh and the Genesis are two different texts from different time periods. The stories that are going to be discussed are the Genesis and Gilgamesh flood stories. They have few similarities but their stories continue along the same line, although they are different in regard to detail. This essay will examine the reasons of the flood, the role of the two main characters, the religious characters and other noticeable difference of these texts. The reason of the flood of the in TheRead MoreFlood Narrative ( Genesis 6-9 ) Vs. 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In both stories, a higher power wants to wipe out the human race and decides to save one person who is then assigned to build an ark to hold himself, his family, and one of each animalRead MoreThe Between Humans And The Gods1515 Words   |  7 Pagesfocuses most of their tales on a man named Gilgamesh. A king who reigned over the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. He was two thirds a god and one third a man and created by the god’s themselves to guide humans. The relationship between humans and the gods was complicated, the Gods come off as very powerful and interfere with the lives of humans as they chose, For example ,when people complain about Gilgamesh being a ruler who does not treat his people well â⠂¬Å" Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement Read MoreBiblical Vs. Classical Phenomenon2078 Words   |  9 PagesBiblical vs. Classical Phenomenon Throughout the semester, we have analyzed various texts that constitute some of the most important publications in the history of humankind. These myths and legends are known as the oldest in centuries and possibly the first sight of written text that humans have encountered. Dating back to the times of traditional oral-based stories, texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh have given humankind a sense of emergence in the old times of script and literature. The Epic